With their sense of serene detachment, hypnotic repeating rhythms, and harmonic stasis, Erik Satie’s Trois Gymnopédies opened the door to a dreamy new world, beforehand unimagined.
Composed in 1888, the transient, atmospheric solo piano works anticipated ambient and experimental music of the late twentieth century. The composer and theorist, John Cage, declared Satie’s improvements to be “indispensable.”
The enduring Gymnopédies have influenced numerous works, from Stephen Sondheim songs comparable to Barcelona, to Janet Jackson’s 2001 Someone To Call My Lover. Add to the checklist A New Satiesfaction by Berlin Philharmonic cellist Stephan Koncz. The transient work for string quartet was composed in 1984 for the ensemble, Made in Berlin. Satie’s unique music turns into “supply materials” for an amiable new piece which incorporates ethereal violin harmonics and pulsing cross-rhythms.
The composer writes of
Erik Satie’s well-known Gymnopédie No. 1 giving inspiration to a very new work: A barely melancholic musette assembly minimalistic influences, a center half that takes the principle theme into our occasions, turning later into an ecstatic model on an imaginary dance flooring. After a strong climax the unique musette returns – considerably regretful – and ends paying homage to the previous.
This recording options Made in Berlin with first violinist Ray Chen:
Recordings
- Koncz/Satie: A New Satiesfaction (Gymnopédie No. 1), Ray Chen, Made in Berlin raychenviolin.com
